The Indian Panorama

Month: October 2022

  • Weekly Horoscope- October 31 to November 6, 2022

    Weekly Horoscope- October 31 to November 6, 2022

    Aries

    Ganesha says, it’s very likely that your week will start off well. You’ll feel motivated and ready to tackle your week’s tasks. You will be emphasized with all forms of kind deeds. This week, you’re going to demonstrate to your superiors your reliability. You and your pal have gotten along well, and you’re thinking of popping the question. The time is right to begin a fresh connection with confidence at its core. You have put a lot of effort into achieving your goals, but the path beyond is surely tougher. You’ll be tempted to work more quickly if you use alternatives. You will be taking an unnecessary hazard. Your employees could stop believing in you.

    Taurus

    Ganesha says,your goals are specific and well-defined, and you’re devoted to achieving them modestly this week. Your family members will guide you on the proper path. The welfare of your household will constantly come first for you. Your partner will stand by your side in times of need. You could have a lucky time this week. You will maintain objectivity when it relates to your connection. You’ll be aware of what needs to be done and the amount of energy and energy you’re prepared to put into it. It’s important to release go of the tension you’ve been experiencing lately. The secret to gaining emotional calmness is mindfulness. Give oneself a treatment this week.

    Gemini

    Ganesha says,you’ll discover imaginative ideas that will enable you to boost your employment income. Your supervisors will find it straightforward to take your suggestions into account. Your working life will change for the good as a result. You will exhibit your usefulness and efficacy. You might be surprised and want to reevaluate your career choice. Nevertheless, you must avoid letting your past interfere with the current and rather make wise plans for tomorrow. Your connection will be impacted by Venus’s passage in your 8th house. You’ve been experiencing gastrointestinal issues. Maintain a healthy, good meal and stay away from fatty foods.

    Cancer

    Ganesha says,you’ll enjoy yourself this week. Issues that annoy you won’t be a worry to you. You’ll be searching for opportunities to develop your profession. Since you’ll focus on developing your courage and strength, you won’t be terrified of anybody anymore. Considering you haven’t communicated to one another in a while, you will likely experience issues with your partner. Spend some time reflecting on what you really want from this relationship. You’ve been exerting yourself tougher due to your health issues, which has made you exhausted. You should unwind for a while before developing a plan to tackle it in a methodical way.

    Leo

    Ganesha says,you have been searching for new possibilities and you will get them this week. If you find an appropriate opportunity, your job search could be over. Your income may start off modest, but it will eventually increase. The time is not now to abandon all hope. You might receive support from your partner, which would cause you to experience awful. Instead of focusing on the drawbacks of your connection, emphasize the benefits. No issues with your wellness will arise. Your youngsters may fall ill or get a low-grade temperature in the afternoon. Give them the best treatment possible.

    Virgo

    Ganesha says,all your assumptions are true, this week will be a great week for you even though you may win the lotto you’ve been winning for a while. You may use your sense of irony in your professional life, in addition, to assist you to unwind. This week, take into account all the risks before you make a purchase. Your new partnership will get started on a personal note. Take baby strides in your relationship and you will realize how cherished you are. A headache from the previous evening is possible. You’ll be OK; finish your week by starting a new health regimen.

    Libra

    Ganesha says, your actions and feelings will be motivated by a positive perspective this week. Nobody will be capable of diverting your attention or keeping you from your objectives. You might also start a household improvement venture or focus on addressing household problems and marital fluctuations. This week, you might feel pressured to quit your work and lead a nomadic lifestyle. But even before you think of something else, you must first think about your responsibilities inthe household. Your love life will be wonderful this week. This week won’t have an impact on your but being cautious will help you stay safe.

    Scorpio

    Ganesha says, this week, you need to be extremely meticulous. You could maintain your composure at the workplace this week and argue with a colleague. Your job might be negatively impacted by this. You must keep your cool and use logic to navigate the issue. This week, it’s crucial that you maintain your composure. You’re in a fulfilling connection and want to advance it, but your partner isn’t keen. Collectively, you may brainstorm a resolution and talk it through. You will be bothered by the stress and obligations. Take a minute to calm yourself and relax.

    Sagittarius

    Ganesha says, this week, you’ll be a touch beyond the usual route, but you’ll still be prepared to help or encourage anybody who confronts you. You’ll be happy with your decision and donate to a great cause. You’ll meet new people this week thanks to your inherent capacity for empathy. Given that you have not really been functioning well lately, you’ll be depressed this week. You should assign your duties to someone and spend a few days’vacations from work. In the first half of this week, your marriage will suffer since your partner won’t be able to go above and beyond for you. Your wellness will improve if you learn to control your emotions.

    Capricorn

    Ganesha says, this week at business, you’ll be given executive authority and put in command of the upcoming assignment. You will be required to put in a lot of energy because your involvement will be very important at this point. You have to be ready for what comes next and for unanticipated events. Due to unforeseeable events, you’ll have a memorable meeting with a new person. This person will become more familiar to you as you appreciate their companionship. This week, you could suffer some heart condition, which could worry you. Consult a doctor if necessary to prevent any further problems.

    Aquarius

    Ganesha says, you’ll learn some fantastic information this week, so be prepared. As you have chosen a crucial choice for your household, you will be moving ahead. Others will feel pity for you, but your strength will shock them.   You will experience economic challenges, but you will figure out how to get beyond them. You always fall ahead because you wait too long to ask for help when you need it. You ought to never be reluctant or scared to ask for assistance. This week, your partner will be so happy with what you’ve done that they’ll believe you are someone who will strongly commit to this relationship.   Your wellness will be stable and in wonderful condition. Don’t worry about it.

    Pisces

    Ganesha says, you will deal with a range of problems at employment in the first half of this week. You’ll have a hard time getting beyond your obstacles. Nevertheless, you need to be patient and watch for future benefits. Rather than relying on your colleagues, make sure you do your part and fulfill your obligations. You’ve been a great partner since you’re considerate of your partner’s interests and humble. Affection will reward you with benefits if you stay in tune with your primal inclinations. You must alter your daily pattern and partake in beneficial activities in order to keep beneficial and ward off sickness.

  • Horoscope for the Month of November,2022

    Horoscope for the Month of November,2022

    Aries 

    Positive: Ganesha says now is the best time to concentrate your efforts on cognitive tasks. Try to be adaptable as well as optimistic.

    Finance: Expert advice and a small investment in a bucket could mean the difference between success and failure in finance. There is a chance of financial success as well as the return of funds given to family or friends.

    Love: Avoid being affected by your friends and family, as this could lead to a divorce. Rather than arguing, try to spend quality time together. 

    Business: A meeting with employees from another company as well as top management may take place. You are likely to get a good deal on your company’s project. If you own a business, avoid arguing with your siblings. 

    Education: Yoga and medical students are having a good month this month. Because you and your parents may have opposing viewpoints on the subject, you should have an open and honest discussion with them. This discussion could be extremely beneficial to your studies.

    Health: To improve your physical and mental health, try to surround yourself with positive people and enroll in some meditation classes.

    Taurus  

    Positive:Ganesha says being thankful does not imply that everything is always good. If that’s all it means, you can simply accept it as a gift.

    Finance: There is nothing to be concerned about in terms of finances. This month has the potential to be very profitable for your financial situation, and you could make a lot of money with a business deal.

    Love: If you are serious about marrying, you should sit down and devise a long-term strategy. You must find someone who understands you and is interested in a long-term relationship. Even married couples would be happy with their marriage.

    Business: Those seeking an international assignment are likely to find a rewarding career change. Your seniors will appreciate your efforts and encourage you to continue learning and applying what you’ve learned. 

    Education: Those of you who have worked as a tutor or mentor in a government agency is likely to be promoted shortly. You might also be encouraged to learn a professional skill that will help you stand out in a competitive market. In the coming days, your efforts will be recognized. 

    Health: You may experience relief from chronic ailments as well as a renewed sense of vigor and vitality. You should avoid becoming ill or being involved in an accident, and you should drive carefully.

    Gemini  

    Positive:Ganesha says you must take action you have never taken before to obtain what you have never had.

    Finance: If you are involved in a legal proceeding, you may incur unexpected legal fees. Those of you in sales marketing should be able to get a good deal this month.

    Love: Some of you may be grumpy and unappreciative of your partner. There is a chance of disagreement, which could lead to a breakdown in communication. Avoid being swayed by your friends and family.

    Business: You may also be recognized in addition to being chosen. When handling calls and emails at work, it is recommended that you be attentive and courteous. Writers and artists may achieve success. 

    Education: Mentors can impart knowledge to students of sports and art. You should be around positive people and think positive thoughts. Students interested in sports may have new options.

    Health: Make an effort to meditate regularly this month. This month, eat a healthy diet of fruits and juices

    Cancer  

    Positive:Ganesha says you have control over your happiness; you don’t need the approval of others to be happy. 

    Finance: Extra costs for your sibling’s wants and needs are also included in the month. The money and finance horoscope for the month may bring you varying degrees of financial success. To make more money this month, you should avoid taking any shortcuts or using unfair methods. 

    Love: Even after spending so much time together, you may have some minor disagreements. For the sake of their relationship, most indigenous peoples may have to swallow their pride and set aside their selfishness.

    Business: You should maintain a high level of self-assurance in your field. To gain respect, try to be more humble.

    Education: Students born under this sign can concentrate on their studies without being distracted. Your academic path may present some difficulties, but you will overcome them quickly. 

    Health: This month may allow you to positively enjoy your work and health. Travel with caution and forethought.

    Leo  

    Positive:Ganesha says while you have no control over what happens to you, you do have control over how you perceive everything that happens to you.

    Finance: Your spending may rise this month. If you are working on a project, the failure of the project could spell financial disaster for you. 

    Love: If a married couple is having problems, they can solve them by talking about them. Never criticize your parents in front of your spouse if you live with them.

    Business: People born under this sign may have the opportunity to work abroad as working professionals or business owners.

    Education: Mentors can point you in the right direction when it comes to learning. Those interested in distance education can find excellent mentors on the internet. 

    Health: To avoid dust, wear as much clothing as possible and use a cloth to cover your face and mouth.

    Virgo  

    Positive:Ganesha says you are likely to be in good spirits for the rest of the month. 

    Finance: Now is a great time to think about making some wise investments. Prioritize your tasks by placing the most important and time-sensitive items at the top of the list. 

    Love: Excellent communication heightens feelings of love, passion, and intimacy, allowing you to share special moments with friends, family, and loved ones. 

    Business: You should also avoid making major decisions under duress. In the second half of the month, coworkers may be able to assist you. 

    Education: You should be able to overcome any issues that arise in the last few weeks of the month. 

    Health: You may be able to strike an ideal balance between your personal life and your health.

    Libra  

    Positive:Ganesha says there is always an alternative. You might decide to approach them with a positive attitude. 

    Finance: Your financial situation may remain stable. It may result in some good cash profits from previous investments, strengthening your position. 

    Love: Reach out to family and friends and muster the courage to express your concerns to them. As the month draws to a close, you’ll be able to generate viable ideas. 

    Business: Progressive forces may be able to assist you in moving forward. Your coworkers and superiors may be able to provide you with valuable advice that will assist you in resolving some outstanding issues. 

    Education: Using your energy in new ways can do a lot of good in your community. You may have the opportunity to learn new skills. It may also help you make significant progress as the month progresses. 

    Health: After some ups and downs in your health, you may notice a return to normal health conditions this month.

    Scorpio  

    Positive:Ganesha says the best way to ensure that your dreams come true is to live them. 

    Finance: You may be dissatisfied with your slow progress. You may see consistent gains if you stick to your budget. If you have applied for a loan, the bank will most likely help you. 

    Love: Perhaps you and your partner don’t trust each other. As a result, to resolve conflicts and strengthen your bond with your life partner, you must prioritize your relationship. 

    Business: On-the-job employees may receive assistance from their superiors. During this time, job seekers may be able to find new opportunities. 

    Education: This is the perfect time to broaden your horizons by picking up a new skill. Your efforts this month may not be in vain. 

    Health: By the end of the month, you may be feeling better and your luck may be turning in your favor.

    Sagittarius  

    Positive:Ganesha says being kind is not a product. True compassion never limits its actions and never expects anything in return.

    Finance: As a result of your prudent investing strategy, your bank account would steadily grow.

    Love: Those of you who have been putting off starting a major project for a long time should reconsider the changes you intend to make to your current project. 

    Business: Employees, on the other hand, may be able to contribute to the growth of their company.

    Education: Participate in any group discussion for educational purposes. This will also aid your understanding. The perspectives and opinions of others can teach you a lot. People, it will be worthwhile! 

    Health: Continue with your ways and dealings only if you are completely confident in them. Others may quickly figure out what you’re up to. This month will be exciting and revitalizing for you. 

    Capricorn  

    Positive:Ganesha says being courageous entails confronting fear, refusing to ignore it, and acting despite it. 

    Finance: This month, remember to keep a close eye on the returns on your current investments. This will allow you to increase your wealth, which will be beneficial in the future. 

    Love: Marriage is a wonderful institution for those who have been dating for a long time. This is an excellent opportunity to strengthen your love and relationship over time. 

    Business: This is not the best month to start a new business. You’d be in big trouble if you did that. My only piece of advice is to keep an eye on your cash flow. 

    Education: My only piece of advice is to be extra cautious with your hard work this month because it could be the month where your learning is solely based on your current efforts. 

    Health: You can now sleep better and live a happier life. If you have persistent disease, check your health and take any necessary medications. Also, refrain from drinking any alcohol for the entire month.

    Aquarius  

    Positive:Ganesha says when something terrible happens, keep your cool, take a few deep breaths, and redirect your attention to something uplifting.

     

    Finance: Avoid investing because your money may become stranded during this period. Taking out a loan or credit facility this month may not be advantageous to you. 

    Love: Singles may also meet someone who is a perfect match for them. You have a good chance of conceiving this month, according to your monthly forecast.

    Business: To land the job as soon as possible, you should maximize your opportunity as well as your self-confidence, resilience, and positive thinking. 

    Education:  Take some practice tests before the final exam, as this may be your last chance to succeed. This month, make the most of your planning. 

    Health: Now is the time to be content with the direction your life will take in the future. Some of you may need to be more cautious about your future travel plans because this could work against you. 

    Pisces  

    Positive: Even when they are in the midst of a storm, the most courageous and compassionate people find the strength and compassion to help others. 

    Finance: You’ll be in a giving mood and will help out your friends who are short on cash, as well as donate money to charitable organizations. 

    Love: Some of you may receive a romantic proposal from your hometown.

    Business: You’ll be a ball of energy all month. Professional connections in the creative industries should be strengthened through the use of digital media.

    Education: Your teacher and mentor may have some excellent suggestions for you. Your chances of admission to a higher education program are excellent. 

    Health: Stress at work or home can cause agitation and negativity, interfere with your ability to sleep, and lead to unanticipated health problems.

  • How to get glass skin at home and steps to follow

    How to get glass skin at home and steps to follow

    Glass skin is nothing but flawless clear skin that looks smooth as the surface of the glass which reflects light. The glass skin trend grew in popularity especially when the world fell in love with Korean beauty regimes. Korean actors’ beautiful skin looks almost unreal but it can be achieved with a proper diet and a devoted skincare regime. Korean glass skin facials and massages are quite common in the parlour and you can get it done at an affordable price but the results won’t last long until you follow the eight-step skincare routine to achieve it. With the below-listed products you can easily win glass skin at home:

    How to get glass skin at home?

    Glass skin and the quest to retain a luminous, translucent skin glow is a dream for many. Here’s a step by step routine to follow to achieve the glass skin glow.

    Double Cleanse

    Cleansing is nothing but washing your face. Korean glass skin routine emphasises double cleansing to clear out all the impurities on the face before proceeding with other products. First, face your face with an oil-based cleanser that won’t clog pores or strip skin of its natural oils and repeat the same with a foam-based cleanser that removes the greasy and oily makeup residues or other dirt.

    Exfoliator

    Post cleansing, dab your face with a towel and apply a face scrub to exfoliate your skin. This step helps remove excess dead skin cells and removes blackheads on the skin. Though a lot of people skip on exfoliation and directly jump to the next step, exfoliation is an important part to achieve a glass-like glow on your skin.

    Toner

    Your skin is left soft and supple after exfoliation. Apply an alcohol-free toner to help reset the pH of the skin. Let the toner air dry so your skin can effectively soak up the goodness, and follow with an essence.

    Essence

    An essence is a lightweight water-based product that adds moisture to your skin. It prevents signs of ageing and strengthens the skin’s defence system. Essene is the most significant part of the glass skin routine as it gives a natural glow to your skin.

    Face Serum

    Next, layer a face serum and massage your face gently. The powerful antioxidant properties of Vitamin C and hyaluronic acid prevent free-radical damage, thereby making your skin brighter and younger. It improves skin texture and nourishes deeply to help retain your skin’s natural glow.

    Source: Pinkvilla

  • Use avocado oil for hair growth

    Use avocado oil for hair growth

    Avocado oil is derived from the versatile avocado fruit which is the source of avocado oil. It is loaded with essential nutrients and has a light texture with great penetrative powers. Your hair needs the vital minerals, vitamins, and fats that avocado contains. Its oil contributes to hair moisture, lessens dandruff, encourages hair growth, shields the hair from harm, and adds shine. We have covered the potential advantages of using avocado oil on hair, how to use it, and any potential risks in this post. The oil’s quick penetration abilities may improve the health of your hair. It has a high vitamin E and D content and has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant qualities. These characteristics of the oil make it ideal for boosting hair growth and health. Take a look at why you should use avocado oil for hair growth.

    Protects Hair From Damage

    Avocado oil has the ability to nourish the hair with fatty acids and protect it from harm. Sun exposure, harsh style methods, and hot hair appliances like blow dryers or straighteners are some of the common causes of hair damage. Before using heat-styling products, use avocado oil to the hair to reduce heat damage.

    Using It As Serum

    Avocado oil can also be used as a styling serum for hair. Avocado oil’s omega-3 and omega-9 fatty acids help to support a healthy mane. Apply it gently with your fingertips from the middle of the shaft to the ends, then evenly distribute it with a hair brush.

    Promoting Hair Growth

    Your scalp’s blood flow may be improved by applying avocado oil massages. This can energise the hair follicles and clear any clogged ones that promote hair growth. Vitamin D is also present in avocado oil. The development of new hair follicles may be promoted by this nutrient. You will see changes if you repeat this method every few weeks.

    Reduces Dandruff

    Your scalp can become dry and flaky as a result of colour treatments, chemical shampoos, and certain medical conditions. Dandruff could develop as a result of this scalp issue. Dandruff can result from scalps that are excessively oily or too dry. Applying a natural oil topically, such as avocado oil, can benefit scalp health. Before washing your hair, massage some avocado oil into your scalp to possibly lessen dandruff.

    Gives Shiny Hair

    Avocado oil is a potent source of all the essential vitamins and nutrients your hair requires. It can give your hair shine and improve all of your hairstyles. You can apply the oil to your hair by dispensing a small bit into your hands, rubbing your hands together, and applying it to your hair.       Source: Her Zindagi

  • Payyoli Chicken Fry

    Payyoli Chicken Fry

    A simple fried chicken recipe with authentic Malabar flavours. The spiciness of the green chillies cuts perfectly through the juicy and tender chicken pieces. The coconut oil gives this dish a distinct flavour. Serve this dish as a starter for your house parties.

    Ingredients

    500 Gram Chicken, cleaned and cut into 1 inch cubes

    1 tsp Garlic, minced

    1 tsp Ginger, minced

    2 tsp Kashmiri Red Chilli Powder

    1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder (Haldi)

    2 tbsp Vinegar1 Green Chilli, slit lengthwise

    1 tbsp Meat Masala

    3 tbsp Fresh Coconut, gratedto taste Salt

    2 sprig Curry Leaves

    3 tbsp Coconut Oil100 ml water

    Method

    –              Marinate the chicken in minced ginger and garlic, vinegar, turmeric powder, salt, meat masala powder and Kashmiri red chilli powder.

    –              Keep this for an hour.

    –              Combine grated coconut and Kashmiri red chilli powder.

    –              Heat coconut oil in a pan and fry the marinated chicken along with slit green chillies.

    –              Add the red chilli-coconut mix and curry leaves to the semi-cooked chicken and fry it for a while.

    –              Pour water and let the chicken cook till the chicken completely absorbs the water.

    –              The Payyoli chicken fry is ready.

                    Source: NDTV Food

  • Reasons why you should never skip breakfast

    Reasons why you should never skip breakfast

    What is the first thing that concerns most people immediately after waking up in the morning? Usually, it’s what to have for breakfast. And believe me when I say that this is one of the best decisions you can make for the entire day. Because after fasting for an average of 6-8 hours while you sleep, breaking the fast is imperative to have the energy to begin the day right. A healthy and fulfilling breakfast is the fuel that replenishes your body energy with nutrients and minerals offering you the necessary boost to get back to work.

    Here’s a closer look at why you should make it a point to make the first meal of the day a priority, without exception:

    If you are keen about losing excess weight, it’s a cardinal dietary sin to skip breakfast regularly. The habit of consuming power-packed, wholesome breakfasts shortly after waking up helps to curb your hunger pangs throughout the day. This further leads to less chances of overeating and helps you consciously make nutritious choices when it comes to your other meals. So, if you are keeping tabs on your weight, a nutritious breakfast is not an option, it IS the only option to keep obesity at bay.

    A healthy breakfast not only kick starts your day and keeps your health in check but also decreases the risk of contracting heart disease in the long run. Studies have linked breakfast skippers to increased chances of clogged arteries. That also opens the door to other lifestyle diseases such as high cholesterol, hypertension, obesity, and many more, which leads to higher risk of strokes and heart attacks. Studies have also proven that having breakfast reduces the chances of getting Diabetes since it minimises the insulin spikes in your blood and keeps insulin resistance at bay. On the other hand, missing breakfast habitually can be correlated to developing Type 2 Diabetes caused by persistent insulin resistance. By skipping breakfast, you allow your body’s insulin levels to drop and spike again sharply post lunch — the most foolproof way to getting Type 2 Diabetes.

    If you eat breakfast regularly, you are giving your brain a necessary boost and thus are mentally sharper to those who skip it. You will notice that your short-term memory is enhanced, equipping you with increased concentration and productivity levels.

                    Source: IANSlife

  • Foods to help reduce risk of chronic kidney disease

    A progressive decrease in kidney function is a feature of chronic kidney disease, commonly known as chronic kidney failure. Wastes and extra fluid are removed from your blood by your kidneys and then passed through your urine. Your body may accumulate hazardous amounts of fluid, electrolytes, and wastes if you have advanced chronic kidney disease. Waste, particularly food waste products, accumulates in the blood when the kidneys aren’t functioning correctly. As a result, those who have kidney illnesses must adhere to a particular diet. In this article, we list foods that have been linked to lowering the risk of chronic kidney disease.

    Garlic

    Garlic lowers cholesterol, soothes inflammation, and contains antibacterial qualities that help prevent buildup from accumulating on teeth. Garlic can be easily added to a variety of savoury recipes whether you buy it raw, in a container, chopped, or powdered. A head of roasted garlic can also be added to curries. etc. In the kidney diet, garlic powder works well in place of garlic salt since it adds a delightful flavour.

    Strawberries

    Anthocyanins and ellagitannins, two different forms of phenols, are abundant in strawberries. Strawberries’ red colour is produced by anthocyanins, potent antioxidants that assist safeguard bodily cell structures and stop oxidative damage. Strawberries are a fantastic source of fibre, vitamin C, manganese, and other micronutrients. In addition to having anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties, they could offer cardiac protection.

    Apples

    Apples may lower cholesterol, decrease constipation, prevent heart disease, and lower the chance of developing cancer. Making it beneficial for our overall health. Apples are high in fibre and anti-inflammatory ingredients, which is excellent news for kidney disease sufferers who already make a lot of doctor’s appointments.

    Cabbage

    Cabbage, a green leafy is part of the cruciferous vegetable family. It is bursting with phytochemicals, chemical substances found in fruits or vegetables that disperse free radicals before they can do harm. Cabbage is an excellent source of fibre, vitamins K, C, and B6, as well as B vitamins B6 and folic acid. It’s an inexpensive addition to the kidney diet because it’s low in potassium and cost.

    Onions

    The sulphur compounds in onions, an Allium family member and a staple ingredient in many cooked meals, are what give them their strong aroma. Furthermore, onions contain a lot of flavonoids, including quercetin, a potent antioxidant that may lower the risk of heart disease and shield against a variety of diseases. Onions are a high source of chromium, a mineral that aids in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, and they are low in potassium.

    Red bell peppers

    Red bell peppers are excellent for the kidney diet for a number of reasons, one of which is their low potassium content and great taste. In addition to being delicious, these veggies are a great source of fibre, and vitamins B6, C, and A. Because they contain lycopene, an antioxidant that helps prevent some cancers, red bell peppers are healthy for you.

                    Source: NDTV

  • New cancer research offers a way out of painful effects of chemotherapy

    One of the most effective ways of treating cancer today is ‘chemotherapy’. However, chemotherapy attacks cancerous cells as well as other normal cells in the body due to which the condition of a cancer patient worsens for a few days.

    Indian researchers have now discovered a technique whose therapy will only attack cancerous cells and not harm the rest of the body’s cells. The micro-RNA developed by researchers from the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) specifically kills cervical cancer cells. The currently available treatments for cervical cancer are chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but it also has an effect on non-cancerous cells, which is quite harmful and toxic. The findings of the study could pave the way for the development of micro-RNA therapy that is not harmful for the treatment of cervical cancer in the future.

    This micro-RNA has been discovered by a team of researchers from BHU led by Samarendra Kumar Singh, Assistant Professor, School of Biotechnology, Institute of Science, BHU. During the study, Singh and his Ph. D student Garima Singh demonstrated that a human micro-RNA, miR-34a, kills the viral E6 gene, which in turn shuts down an oncogenic cell cycle factor, and kills only cervical cancer cells.

    This discovery is of utmost importance in the context of developing a safe and specific therapy in the management of cervical cancer. During the study, the researchers found that no ill-effects were seen on normal or non-cancerous cells.

    Upon completion, this study could be important towards developing specific treatment therapies for cervical cancer. The study findings have been published in BMC Cancer, one of the most prestigious journals in the field of cancer. This is the first study to show that miR-34a suppresses cancer cells by regulating the cell cycle.

    High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is a factor in 99 per cent of cervical cancer cases by weakening the host cell’s multiple tumor suppressors and checkpoint factors. The viral protein also stabilises several oncogenic factors, including an essential cell cycle regulator Cdt2/ DTL which in turn promotes cell transformation and proliferation.

    Source: IANS

  • Chhath Puja or Surya Shashthi

    Chhath Puja or Surya Shashthi

    Chhath is an ancient Hindu Vedic festival which is historically celebrated in Bihar-Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and India’s eastern Uttar Pradesh and Nepal in the most elaborate form. This festival is celebrated mainly in Bihar- Jharkhand. But it is also prevalent in areas where the presence of people of Bihar-Jharkhand is present. This festival is celebrated not only in India but also in foreign countries. This festival has now become prominent in the India capital, Delhi. The Chhath Puja is dedicated to the Sun and his wife Usha in order to thank them for bestowing the bounties of life on earth and to request the granting of certain wishes. It is called Chhath due to Sun Shastri’s fasting. This festival is celebrated twice a year. For the first time in Chaitra and the second time in Kartik. The festival celebrated on the Chaitra Shukla Paksha Sashti is called Chaitra Chhath and the festival celebrated on the Kartik Shukla Paksha Sashti is called Kartik Chhath. Chhath Puja is a four-day festival. It starts with Kartik Shukla Chaturthi and ends with Kartik Shukla Saptami. During this fasting, the fast will continues for next 36 hours. During this time they do not even accept water.

    Nahay Khay

    The first day of Chhath festival or it can be said that Chhath festival starts from this day, this day is known as ‘Nahay-Khay’. This day falls on the Chaturthi of Kartik month, Kartik Shukla Chaturthi. On this day, first of all the house is cleaned and sanctified. On this day, the fasting person can eat food only once in a day. On this day, the devotees take a bath after thoroughly cutting off the nails, etc., washing their hair thoroughly with clean water. Vratis take bath in the nearby river Ganges, a tributary of the Ganges or a pond. While returning, he brings with him Gangajal which he uses for cooking. The fasting eats food only once on this day. In the food, Vratis use pumpkin vegetable, moong gram dal, rice. This food is cooked in a bronze or earthen pot. Mango wood and earthen stove are used for cooking. When the food is prepared, first the fast eats the food, only then other members of the family eat the food.

    Kharna and Lohanda

    The second day of Chhath festival is known as Kharna or Lohanda. It is celebrated on Panchami of Kartik month. On this day, the fasting fasts fast for the whole day. Do not take even a drop of water before sunset. In the evening, kheer is made using rice jaggery and sugarcane juice. Salt and sugar are not used in cooking. After giving these two things to the Sun God, they do ‘solitude’ in the same house, that is, they accept it by staying alone. All the family members go out of the house at that time so that there is no noise. It is against the rules of the festival to hear any kind of sound for the fasting person while eating alone.

    After eating the fast again, he feeds the same ‘Kheer-Roti’ to all his family members and friends and relatives. This whole process is called ‘Kharna’. Rice pitha and ghee-laden roti are also distributed as prasad. After this, for the next 36 hours, the fasting fast is kept Nirjala. At midnight, the fasting prepares special prasad Thekua for Chhath Puja.

    Sandhya Arghya

    The third day of Chhath festival which is known as Sandhya Arghya. It is celebrated on Kartik Shukla Shashthi. This day is a special day of Chhat Puja. Special prasad like thekua, also known as rice laddus or kachvaniya, is prepared for Chhath puja. For Chhath Puja, a basket made of bamboo called Daura is put in the offerings of worship, fruits and kept in Devkari. After offering worship, in the evening a coconut, five types of fruits, and other items of worship are placed in a basket, which the man picks up with his hands and takes it to the Chhath Ghat. It is not impure so that it is kept on the top of the head. On the way towards Chhath Ghat, women usually go singing the song of Chhath.

    Usha Arghya

    Arghya is offered to the rising sun on the morning of Kartik Shukla Saptami on the fourth day. Even before sunrise, the fasting people worship the rising sun god at the ghat. The dishes offered in Sandhya Arghya are replaced by new ones, but the tubers, roots, fruits and vegetables remain the same. All the rules and regulations are the same as in the evening prayer. At this time only the fasting people stand in the water facing east and do Suryapasana. After the worship is over, the ghat is worshipped. After distributing prasad among the people present there, the fasting comes home and also distributes prasad to his family at home. Vratis come back home and worship the Peepal tree in the village, which is called Brahma Baba. After the puja, the fasting is completed by drinking sherbet of raw milk and eating some prasad, which is called Paran or Parana. The fasting people eat salty food this morning after fasting from Kharna till date.

    Popular Katha

    Many stories are prevalent in relation to Chhath fast. According to one of them, when Pandavas lost their entire palace in gambling, then Lord Krishna suggest to Draupadi for Chhath fast. When Draupati completed the fast, her wishes were fulfilled and the Pandavas got the Raajpat’s back. According to one belief, Lord Rama and Mata Sita fasted Kartik Shukla Shishtha on the establishment of Ramrajya after the Lanka victory and worshiped the sun god. Saptami had received a blessing from Sun God after re-rituals during sunrise.

    Scientific point of view

    If the Chhath festival is seen from a scientific point of view, then a special astronomical transformation on the date, at this time, the ultraviolet rays of the Sun are gathered in greater quantity than the normal on the surface of the earth, hence due to its possible maladies, the power to protect is achieved. Following the festival of Chhath Puja, the animals are protected from harmful effects of sun light. In Hindu religion, Lord Sun is worshiped for the treatment of various types of skin diseases including leprosy diseases.

                    Source: Thedivineindia

  • Andaman: Blue seas, virgin islands and colonial past

    Andaman: Blue seas, virgin islands and colonial past

    Replete with turquoise blue water beaches and a bit of history, Andaman & Nicobar Islands is a little slice of paradise tucked around 1,400 km away from the east coast of mainland India. Port Blair, the capital of this union territory, has a major airport and seaport connected with the rest of the country and with various tourist islands via multiple daily ferries. Havelock and Neil Islands are popular among tourists for their white sandy beaches and excellent diving options. Andaman & Nicobar Islands comprises 572 islands, only 37 of which are inhabited, and a few are open to tourists. Havelock Island is one of the largest and the most popular islands of all Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Travellers typically enter from Port Blair via flight or ship and spend multiple nights in Havelock and Neil Islands that offer some great resorts.

    Port Blair is generally used as a base city to catch ferries to nearby islands. However, tourists also spend a day or two here to explore the town and nearby beaches. People also take day trips to Ross Island and North Bay Island or Baratang and Jolly Buoy island from Port Blair. Andamans have the most exotic beach and some of them also give the opportunity of trying out a number of water sports such as Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Sea Walk etc. North Bay Island near Port Blair, Elephant Beach in Havelock Island and Bharatpur Beach in Neil Island are three popular beaches to try out watersports.

    Places To Visit

    Cellular Jail

    The Cellular Jail, also known as ‘Kala Pani’ is an old colonial prison situated in Port Blair, the capital of Andaman and Nicobar islands. Constructed by the Britishers during their colonial rule in India, the jail was used particularly to exile Indian political prisoners. It was used to house many notable freedom fighters such as Batukeshwar Dutt, Yogendra Shukla and Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.

    The jail complex is now owned by the Government of India and it is recognised as the national memorial monument that showcases the life of prisoners during the British era. Cellular Jail stands as a prominent tourist attraction in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands where visitors can learn about its history and also enjoy a light show held in memory of all the prisoners who were imprisoned here.

    Today, the Cellular Jail is a solemn reminder of all the struggles the Indian freedom fighters undertook while fighting for independence, and is an integral part of India’s history.

    Elephant Beach

    With its brilliant coral reefs and alluring cyan waters, the Elephant beach is one of the locations that add to the beach paradise reputation of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. These waters are a prime destination for tourists wishing to engage in water sports like snorkelling, swimming, banana boat rides, speed boats and diving. There are two ways to reach Elephant Beach: Take a ferry from Havelock Jetty to Elephant Beach (1000 INR per person) or trek for half an hour with a guide (INR 500). The trek starts at a distance of 2km from Radhanagar Beach. For those who are here to relax, the beach offers some exciting food and drink options while one lounges leisurely on the sands. One could also engage in other adventurous activities like bird-watching, trekking and kayaking. As this area is famous for its coral reefs, sea walking is a major activity undertaken by almost every visitor to this beach, making this one of the best beaches of India.

    Neil Island

    Neill Island is a part of the South Andaman Administrative District and belongs to Ritchie’s Archipelago in the Bay of Bengal. A part of the massive ocean separates it from Ross Island and Havelock Island, Tourists visiting Havelock often make a day-long trip to Neill Island.

    Perhaps the most endearing feature of this island is its three sandy beaches, namely Bharatpur Beach, Sitapur Beach and Lakshmanpur Beach. The forest cover has reduced considerably due to the cultivation of rice but a section in the north-west of the island is being preserved actively.

    The regions where the forest cover is lost has a couple of degrees or so higher temperature than the region with enough flora. Nonetheless, Neill Island is the major supplier of vegetables to most regions of the Andaman Islands.

    Due to its limited area, Neill Island can be covered with a simple walk. All three beaches are exquisite and extraordinarily clean and are well-connected to the mainland as well.

    Radhanagar Beach

    Awarded with the title of ‘Asia’s Best Beach’ by the TIMES magazine in 2004, Radhanagar Beach in Havelock Island with its turquoise blue waters and powdery white sands lives up to the moniker. Its vast shores of endless white grains stretch across 2 kilometres, making it a prime attraction of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

    Food stalls and vendors can be seen on the fringes of the shore, keeping travellers refreshed with the provision of fresh and delicious seafood as well as beverages. You can also book beach beds, parasols, and umbrellas while they spend hours merely lounging at this exquisite wonderland. Radhanagar Beach Andaman is just adjacent to Elephant beach, so you may find mahouts taking out their elephants for a joyride to the tourists. The beach is also secure with patrolling lifeguards ready for rescue.

                    Source: Holidify

  • Mandeep scores two late goals as India come from behind to beat NZ

    Mandeep scores two late goals as India come from behind to beat NZ

    Bhubaneswar (TIP)- Mandeep Singh struck two field goals in the final quarter as India began their FIH Pro League campaign with a 4-3 win over New Zealand on October 28. Mandeep scored in the 51st and 56th minutes after India were down 2-3 at the end of the third quarter. Mandeep Mor (13th) and captain Harmanpreet Singh (41st) were the other scorers for world No. 5 India. World No. 9 New Zealand scored through Sam Lane (22nd and 35th) and Jake Smith (34th). New Zealand showed more attacking intent in the early exchanges. India goalkeeper PR Sreejesh was called into action early in the match as he saved a deflection. It was India, however, who got the first penalty corner of the match but failed to convert. India took the lead from their first chance of the match. Nilakanta Sharma found Mor free on the right with an accurate pass before the latter fired past New Zealand goalkeeper Dominic Dixon. India were in the ascendency and threatened to double the lead in the early period of the second quarter. But it was the Black Sticks who equalised seven minutes into the quarter from their first penalty corner. The shot from Sam Lane was blocked in front of goal by Surender Kumar. The visiting team went for a review and replays showed that the ball came off Surender’s foot. Lane found the bottom corner of the Indian goal from the spot.

    Soon after, New Zealand got another penalty corner but this time Krishan Pathak blocked the ball but it fell to Simon Child whose attempt went wide. Just before the halftime, India came close to taking the lead but Sukhjeet Singh’s shot from a narrow angle was saved by Dixon. The third quarter was an exciting contest and New Zealand surged ahead with two quick goals in the 34th and 35th minutes. India pulled one back in the 41st minute when Harmanpreet converted a penalty stroke earned by Mandeep.     Source: PTI

  • Barca, Atletico exit; Liverpool through

    Barca, Atletico exit; Liverpool through

    Bayern’s Sadio Mane, center, scores his side’s opening goal during the Champions League Group C soccer match between Barcelona and Bayern Munich at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain. Barcelona was eliminated from the Champions League even before enduring yet another 3-0 beating by Bayern Munich. Atletico Madrid also went out following an extraordinary sequence around a penalty awarded by video review after the final whistle of its 2-2 draw with Bayer Leverkusen. Atletico’s spot kick was saved before a frantic scramble in the goalmouth still could not bring the winning goal the Spanish club needed to prevent Porto advancing thanks to its 4-0 win earlier at group leader Club Brugge.

    Two Spanish powers who were part of the failed Super League launch last year will now miss out on the round of 16 of Europe’s top competition. Liverpool’s passage into the knockout stage with a game to spare was relatively calm in a 3-0 win at Ajax to join leader Napoli in advancing from free-scoring Group A, which has had 44 goals in 10 games.

    In more stoppage-time drama with video review, Tottenham thought it had won Group D when Harry Kane shot the ball into Sporting Lisbon’s net with seconds left in a game tied at 1-1. A long VAR check ruled Kane had been offside, a furious Tottenham coach Antonio Conte was shown a red card, and the most finely balanced group goes to the final round next week with all four teams having a chance to advance.    Source: AP

  • Zimbabwe edge Pakistan by one run; SA hammer Bangladesh

    Zimbabwe edge Pakistan by one run; SA hammer Bangladesh

    Perth (TIP)- All-rounder Sikandar Raza sensationally picked up 3/25 against Pakistan today as Zimbabwe prevailed by one run in a final-ball thriller to register their first Super 12 win at the T20 World Cup. Floored by an extraordinary last-ball defeat to arch-rivals India in their opening match on Sunday, Pakistan find their tournament in tatters after slumping to 129/8 in 20 overs, having earlier restricted Zimbabwe to a modest 130/8. Fresh off a horror last over against India that cost his side the match, Mohammed Nawaz’s nightmare tournament continued when he was caught for 22 on the penultimate ball of the match off the bowling of Brad Evans (2/25), who had an 11-run cushion in the final over. “Since I’ve been part of Zimbabwe cricket, I would rate that as the best victory we’ve had. There’s no better stage. This is (the) World Cup, the biggest stage of all,” Man of the Match Raza said.

    Pakistan’s chase got off to a rocky start, squeezed at 36/3 in the eighth over with the world’s top-ranked T20 batsman, Mohammed Rizwan, back in the dugout for 14 having chopped a delivery from two-metre tall Blessing Muzarabani (1/18) on to his stumps. It was left to Shaan Masood to steady the ship with a composed 44, regularly exploiting the large outfield to run twos. But Raza further pegged back the Asian side with his off-spin, having Masood stumped off a wide. “Today we were not up to the mark in all three departments,” Pakistan skipper Babar Azam said.

    Rossouw smashes ton

    In Sydney, Rilee Rossouw scored the first century of the edition and built a partnership of 163 with Quinton de Kock to drive South Africa to a thumping 104-run victory over Bangladesh. Muscular lefthander Rossouw pummelled eight sixes and seven fours for his 109, while de Kock pitched in with 63 runs as the Proteas dodged the rain to rack up an imposing tally of 205/5.

                    Source: Reuters

  • IMF cuts Asia’s economic forecasts as China’s slowdown bites

    IMF cuts Asia’s economic forecasts as China’s slowdown bites

    The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has downgraded its economic outlook for Asia as global monetary tightening, rising inflation blamed on the war in Ukraine, and China’s sharp slowdown dampen the region’s recovery prospects. While inflation in Asia remains subdued compared with other regions, most central banks must continue raising interest rates to ensure inflation expectations do not become de-anchored, the IMF said in its Asia-Pacific regional economic outlook report released on Friday.

    “Asia’s strong economic rebound early this year is losing momentum, with a weaker-than-expected second quarter,” said Krishna Srinivasan, director of the IMF’s Asia and Pacific Department. “Further tightening of monetary policy will be required to ensure that inflation returns to target and inflation expectations remain well anchored.”

    The IMF cut Asia’s growth forecast to 4 percent this year and 4.3 percent next year, down 0.9 percent points and 0.8 points from April respectively. The slowdown follows a 6.5 percent expansion in 2021.

    “As the effects of the pandemic wane, the region faces new headwinds from global financial tightening and an expected slowdown of external demand,” the report said.

    Among the biggest headwinds is China’s rapid and broad-based economic slowdown blamed on strict COVID-19 lockdowns and its worsening property woes, the IMF said. “With a growing number of property developers defaulting on their debt over the past year, the sector’s access to market financing has become increasingly challenging,” the report said. “Risks to the banking system from the real estate sector are rising because of substantial exposure.”

    The IMF expects China’s growth to slow to 3.2 percent this year, a 1.2-point downgrade from its April projection, after an 8.1 percent rise in 2021. The world’s second-largest economy is seen growing 4.4 percent next year and 4.5 percent in 2024, the IMF said.      Source: Reuters

  • ‘Let the good times roll’:  Musk tweets on first morning as new Twitter boss

    ‘Let the good times roll’:  Musk tweets on first morning as new Twitter boss

    New York (TIP)- “Let the good times roll”, billionaire Elon Musk tweeted on Friday, hours after he completed his acquisition of Twitter for a whopping USD 44 billion and started off as the social media giant’s new owner by firing its top executives, including CEO Parag Agrawal. “The bird is freed,” Musk had tweeted on Friday, October 28,  after completing the takeover of Twitter and firing the social media giant’s four top executives, including Agrawal, legal executive Vijaya Gadde, Chief Financial Officer Ned Segal and General Counsel Sean Edgett. “Spoiler Alert. Let the good times roll,” Musk, 51, tweeted early Friday morning after ending Thursday night with his acquisition of Twitter.

    “I will be digging in more today,” Musk said in reply to a tweet by a user called ‘Catturd’ who tweeted that he will be tweeting a message “every day to see if anything changes. As of now, I’m still Shadowbanned, ghostbanned, searchbanned, and Twitter removed 1200 followers today – as usual. Nothing has changed – I’ll report again tomorrow.”

    Musk, a self-styled “free speech absolutist”, has been critical of Twitter’s management and its moderation policies.

    “At least one of the executives who was fired was escorted out of Twitter’s office,” a report in the New York Times reported.

    The deal’s closing removes a cloud of uncertainty that has hung over Twitter’s business, employees and shareholders for much of the year, the CNN commented.

    After initially agreeing to buy the company in April, Musk spent months attempting to get out of the deal, first citing concerns about the number of bots on the platform and later allegations raised by a company whistleblower.

    Agrawal, 38, was appointed Twitter CEO in November last year after the social media site’s co-founder Jack Dorsey had stepped down. An IIT Bombay and Stanford alumnus, Agrawal had joined Twitter over a decade ago when there were fewer than 1,000 employees at the company.

    “Agrawal, who was appointed Twitter’s chief executive last year, had clashed” with Musk “publicly and privately in recent months about the takeover,” the NYT report said.

    Musk also “singled out” Gadde, 48, “criticising her for her role in content moderation decisions at the company”, it added.

    As the Twitter account of former US President Donald Trump was permanently suspended in January last year, Hyderabad-born Gadde was at the forefront of this dramatic decision undertaken within days of the attempted insurrection by pro-Trump supporters at the US Capitol.

    Twitter co-founder Biz Stone thanked Agrawal, Segal and Gadde for their “massive contribution” to the business.

    “Thank you to @paraga, @vijaya , and @nedsegal for the collective contribution to Twitter. Massive talents, all, and beautiful humans each!” Stone tweeted. Musk arrived at the company’s headquarters in San Francisco on Wednesday and had been meeting with engineers and advertising executives.

    Musk also updated his Twitter description to “Chief Twit.” He has promised to transform Twitter by loosening the service’s content moderation rules, making its algorithm more transparent and nurturing subscription businesses, as well as laying off employees.

    In April, Twitter accepted Musk’s proposal to buy the social media service and take it private.

    However, Musk soon began sowing doubt about his intentions to follow through with the agreement, alleging that the company failed to adequately disclose the number of spam and fake accounts on the service.   Source: PTI

  • Record sales drive Maruti Suzuki Q2 net to over 4-fold rise at Rs 2,112.5 cr

    Maruti Suzuki India on Friday, October 28,  reported an over four-fold increase in consolidated net profit to Rs 2,112.5 crore in the second quarter that ended September 30, 2022, riding on record sales. The company had posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 486.9 crore in the same period last fiscal, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL) said in a regulatory filing. Total revenue from operations was at Rs 29,942.5 crore as against Rs 20,550.9 crore in the year-ago period. MSIL said it sold a total of 5,17,395 vehicles during the quarter, its highest ever in any quarter.

  • Japan approves $200-bn stimulus to check inflation

    Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s government approved on Friday a hefty economic package that will include about 29 trillion yen ($200 billion) in government spending to soften the burden of rising utility rates and food prices. Globally surging prices and a weakening of the yen have amplified costs for imports, pushing inflation higher. The stimulus package includes subsidies for households that are largely seen as an attempt by Kishida to lift his plunging popularity. His government has been rocked by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s close ties to the South Korean-based Unification church, which surfaced after the assassination of former leader Shinzo Abe in July. “The economic measures are designed to overcome rising prices and to achieve an economic recovery,” Kishida said in a news conference.

                    Source:  AP

  • India’s foreign exchange reserves drop $3.8 billion to $524.5 billion, lowest since July 2020

    Foreign exchange reserves fell $3.8 billion to a two-year-low of $524.52 billion in the week ended October 21, data released by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) revealed. This is the lowest level at which foreign exchange reserves have fallen since July 2020.

    The slide has occurred mainly due to a fall in RBI’s foreign currency assets, which fell to $465.08 billion in the week ended October 21.

    Foreign exchange reserves have fallen by more than $100 billion since Russia invaded Ukraine in February this year.

    On February 25, the day Russia invaded Ukraine, forex reserves were at $631.53 billion.

    Last month, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das had said that 67 per cent of the fall in reserves during the current fiscal was due to revaluation in the face of a stronger dollar.

  • Rishi Sunak makes history, becomes 1st Indian-heritage UK PM

    Rishi Sunak makes history, becomes 1st Indian-heritage UK PM

    Rishi Sunak enters No 10 Downing Street today as the UK’s third prime minister in 2022, and its fifth in six years. Sunak’s investiture of Britain’s highest office may be part of the country’s revolving door political environment, but it is significant as the first time someone of Asian-heritage has made it to the top. The son of African-born Hindu parents of Indian Punjabi descent, Sunak is the first Indian-origin prime minister. That he enters the role the day after Diwali begins is just the cherry on top of the cake.

    It’s a significant step for a country that once ruled over India as a colony of the British Empire.

    Calling it a straight-up victory for meritocracy might be stepping a bit far, given that the privately-educated Sunak becomes prime minister without a single vote cast in his favour, and after replacing another unelected prime minister (Liz Truss) who beat him in the previous internal-party leadership vote. But it’s a form of a victory, sure.

    The rise of Rishi Sunak

    –              Rishi Sunak was born in the UK’s Southampton area to an Indian family. His grandparents hail from Punjab.

    –              The son of a pharmacist mother and doctor father, he was educated at one of England’s most renowned schools, Winchester, and then Oxford. He spent three years at Goldman Sachs Group Inc and later gained an MBA from Stanford in California, where he met his wife Akshata Murthy, the daughter of Infosys co-founder N.R. Narayana Murthy.

    –              The couple got married in 2009 and have two children — Krishna and Anoushka.

    –              Sunak became a Member of Parliament (MP) in 2015 after he got elected from Richmond, Yorkshire.

    –              In February 2020 he was designated as the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the most important UK Cabinet post.

    –              Sunak’s victory in the Tory leadership race came at the end of a dramatic few days in Westminster since Liz Truss resigned on October 20 in the wake of a disastrous tax-cutting mini-budget and several policy U-turns.

    –              Former PM Boris Johnson ruling himself out from the contest over the weekend and Leader of the Commons Penny Mordaunt conceding defeat just moments before the shortlisting deadline on October 24 paved the way for a remarkable political comeback for Sunak.

    –              He now faces the enormous challenge of steering the UK economy through massive inflationary turbulence and also uniting the different wings of a divided Conservative Party.

    Major challenges

    First, the UK’s economic crisis and currency that have particularly suffered ever since Liz Truss’s mini-budget, need to be fixed right away. But that also means there will be immediate tax increases and sharp spending cuts. Worries are that areas such as health care, education and pension funds may be affected the most. It is forecast that schools will run out of cash next year. The National Health Service (NHS) has been under severe pressure with lack of funds and workers, and this winter will be a challenging one.

    Sunak will have to address the country’s inflation, national debt, cost of living and energy crisis. He will have to help common people ensure they have food on the table and heating at home at the same time and don’t ever need to choose between either. It is going to be an incredibly difficult few months for Britons, and it is on Sunak and his cabinet to stabilise the economic issues. Second, he has the challenge of uniting the Conservative Party, which is widely divided at the moment. But MPs believe Sunak will be able to unite the party and get it ready to win the 2024 election against Labour. He is also most likely to swing the Asian votes in London and other parts of the UK from Labour to Conservative, provided he can have a balanced and sensible cabinet and useful and practical policies. Third, Sunak who voted to exit the EU will now have to deal with post-Brexit trade complications, especially in Northern Ireland.

    Fourth, the UK-India relations and the pending completion of FTA will also be under focus.

    Fifth, his foreign policy needs to look after Ukraine and its current situation. Former PM Boris Johnson was extremely passionate about Ukraine’s war against Russia, and Britain has provided military aid.

  • “My aim has been to promote Indian culture”: Purnima Desai

    “My aim has been to promote Indian culture”: Purnima Desai

    Purnima Desai , through her cultural centers-Shikshayatan and Sriniketan, been providing education in Indian culture and Sanskrit and Hindi languages for about 4 decades in New York. In fact, Shikshayatan’s 34th anniversary is being celebrated on October 29. The Indian Panorama editor Prof. Indrajit S Saluja caught up with Purnima Ji to know about her current and future projects. 

    TIP: You have been organizing music festivals  for the  last 4 decades. How do you look at your journey?

    Sikhshayatan Cultural Academy was established on Vijaya Dasami day in 1988. It’s a long journey – 34 years we are celebrating on October 29. The purpose of that organization was to promote Indian culture. It was already a very well-known organization in India. We  are just trying to promote that culture among younger generation here so that they can keep connections with their roots and get the best from both the East and the West. That was my purpose and many children were benefitted as they learnt Sanskrit slokas, Hindi language, vocal and instrumental music, and dances. I was quite successful but there is no end to work. The greater purpose was to make good human beings. That was my goal. Now I am planning to build  educational/cultural centers and couple of temples throughout the United States. Temples will be the part of educational/cultural centers where students can pray. Hopefully by 2024 it will be done. 

    TIP: How are you going to achieve that?

    I don’t want to ask money for Sriniketan or Sikhshayatan. They should earn on their own merit. I have some real estate properties which I will sell when the time comes.  I want to work selflessly for the community. If I get some funds from some genuine people without asking for it, which happened in the past too, then I am blessed. I have organized free musical programs for senior citizens in different senior centers. Your intention has to be pure without any expectations. I silently do my job without expecting any name or fame.

    Purnima Desai with her spiritual master the Enlightened Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanth.

    Moreover, my spiritual master, the Enlightened Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanth ji is there to make my task easier.  

    TIP: You have recently had a large number of  international artists at the international music festival you organized. How do you manage to get these artists from across the world?

    International music festival was a unique one. I wanted to bring the awareness in the community that what classical music is all about.  I was born in Kolkata, West Bengal where art is very popular. From my childhood I was crazy about classical music. Classical music does not only give you immense joy and happiness, but it also heals your soul too. It also reduces your physical pain and stress. It was   a therapy for the listeners who came for the festival. The artists were also very happy to perform. So, both were benefitted. 

    Purnima Desai meets the Prime minister of India, Narendra Modi in New York.

    TIP. You have planned a cultural festival to celebrate 34 years of Shikshayatan  on October 29. What are the highlights?

    It’s going to be very interesting because lot of little kids will perform – singing Bhajans, reciting Dohas of Kabir Ji. There will be dance performances by kids. One group from New Jersey is coming with 19 artists to perform geet, ghazal. There will be garba-raas as well to celebrate Diwali. A top classical artist from Kolkata – Biplab Mukherjee is coming. I hope the audience will enjoy the event.

  • 1984 anti-Sikh riots: The darkest period of modern Indian history

    1984 anti-Sikh riots: The darkest period of modern Indian history

    38 years have passed since ‘Operation Blue Star’, when Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India, ordered an attack on the Sikh Golden Temple in June 1984. The aim was to silence demands for Sikh religious and political autonomy, and resulted in the deaths of 492 civilians. In retaliation, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her two Sikh bodyguards. The events that followed represent one of the darkest periods of modern Indian history. The Khalistan movement, Operation Bluestar, Indira Gandhi’s assassination, the anti-Sikh massacres — 1984 is etched in public memory as a disastrous, tragic year for India.

    Operation Bluestar, ordered by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to wipe out the Khalistani militants holed up inside the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar, saw the death of hundreds of civilians, militants and military personnel alike.

    The Akal Takht, one of the sacred religious sites of the Sikhs within the complex, was badly damaged too, enraging a section of the Sikh population. Bluestar ultimately led to a cycle of violence: the prime minister was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards, and anti-Sikh killings on a massive, mind-numbing scale were orchestrated by leaders and supporters of the ruling Congress party in Delhi and elsewhere, claiming the lives of more than 3,000 persons from the Sikh community. Unofficial estimates place the death toll at more than 5,000. Despite many commissions of inquiry instituted over the decades, the victims of the 1984 massacres continue to battle for and await justice. Dozens of eyewitnesses have testified to police inaction before these commissions. They have deposed that the police did not do anything to stop the killings in which large numbers of people participated.

    Survivors, witnesses and observers spoke of how the violence was orchestrated by Congress leaders — including, they said, H.K.L. Bhagat, Sajjan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler. But no senior politician has been convicted till now, except Sajjan Kumar – who was finally sentenced to life imprisonment by the Delhi high court bench of Justice S. Muralidhar and Justice Vinod Goel in December 2018 after the overturned the trial court verdict of 2013 which had acquitted him.

    At least 10 committees have examined different aspects of the anti-Sikh violence, seven of which have investigated the specific aspect of the death count. But most of these committees have had no impact, with successive governments not implementing their recommendations or disregarding their findings.

    The Mishra Commission, constituted in 1985, accepted “the submission advanced before it that the violence against Sikhs an October 31, 1984, started as a natural reaction to the situation. And that at that stage there was no organised attempt to cause or spread violence by rioting directed against the Sikhs.”

    Similarly, the The Nanavati Commission, submitting its report in 2005, said  that “there was simply no evidence that “Shri Rajiv Gandhi or any other high ranking Congress (I) Leader had suggested or organised attacks on Sikhs. Whatever acts were done, they were done by the local Congress (I) leaders and workers, and they appear to have done so for their personal political reasons.”

    However, a fact-finding team jointly organised by the People’s Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR) and People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) reported both Hindus and Sikhs telling the organisations that far from being a spontaneous expression of ‘grief and anger’ at Indira Gandhi’s assassination, the riots were in fact organised by certain Congress(I) leaders.

    Congress(I) councillors considered to be loyal followers of the MP Dharamdas Shastri were named as the main culprits who were reportedly carrying voters’ lists to identify Sikh households in the Anand Parbat area.

    The Delhi police filed 587 FIRs against those involved in the violence. Out of these, 241 cases were closed by the police, citing lack of evidence.

    Several prominent Congress leaders figure on the lists of several complainants  accusing them of instigating crowds to attack Sikhs in the aftermath of Indira Gandhi’s assassination. Jagdish Tytler was widely accused of playing a prominent role in mobilising the mobs. He has specifically been accused of instigating the mob that led to the murder of three Sikhs at Gurdwara Pul Bangash, Delhi, on November 1, 1984. In 2000, the BJP-led government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee set up the Nanavati commission headed by a former Supreme Court judge to investigate the crimes committed during the 1984 massacres. The commission’s report released in 2005 during the UPA-I tenure, put out detailed evidence against Tytler and other Congress leaders of the Delhi wing of the INC. The report led to Tytler’s resignation from the Union cabinet. Despite the CBI clearing him of any wrongdoing in March 2009, public outrage forced the party to drop him  as an INC candidate for the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.  In 2013, a New Delhi Court ordered the reopening of the case against Tytler and directed the CBI to record the testimonies of key witnesses who had said they saw the Congress leader instigating mobs. He filed a plea for a stay order on CBI probe, which the high court rejected in January 2014.

    One of the most frequently mentioned names in connection with the 1984 violence is that of Congress politician Sajjan Kumar. On the recommendations of Justice G.T. Nanavati Commission, the CBI registered a case against Kumar, alleging that he incited mobs to attack Sikhs in the Delhi Cantonment. The CBI told a Delhi court that Kumar incited the crowd to kill Sikhs. “There was a conspiracy of terrifying proportion with the complicity of police and patronage of local MP Sajjan Kumar,” CBI prosecutor R.S. Cheema told the court. Cheema further told the court that witnesses at the scene heard Sajjan Kumar tell a crowd that “not a single Sikh should survive”.

    While Kumar was acquitted by a district court, the Delhi high court finally convicted him. Kumar was found guilty of murder, promoting enmity between groups and defiling public property, and asked to surrender by December 31, 2018.

    Sajjan Kumar is the main accused in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and is serving a life term in a case relating to the killing of five members of a family in Raj Nagar following the assassination of Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984.

    In the Gandhinagar area, a local Congress(I) councillor Sukhanlal was identified by the victims as the main leader of the assailants. Escapees from the area whom the the People’s Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR) and People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) fact-finding team met at the Shakarpur relief camp on November 6, blamed the Congress(I) MP from the area, H K L Bhagat, for having masterminded the violence in their locality. During the 1990s, a sessions judge in the Karkardooma Court in Delhi, Justice S.N. Dhingra sent senior Congress minister Bhagat to jail briefly. The Nanavati Commission’s recommendations nailed Bhagat in 2005. The Congress leader passed away later that same year due to advanced age and prolonged illness.

    The commission found that along with H.K.L. Bhagat, Dr. Ashok Kumar, a local Congress leader and member of Municipal Corporation, Kalyanpuri, had taken “active part in this anti-Sikh riots.” He had reportedly held a meeting in Kalyanpuri, in which he incited violence, and in the ensuing violence, there were cases of loot, murder, arson and rape. The commission, though, failed to recommend any further action against Bhagat and Kumar, citing their acquittals in criminal cases even though they had been acquitted due to poor investigations by the police.

  • Assassination of Indira Gandhi and its violent aftermath

    Assassination of Indira Gandhi and its violent aftermath

    On the morning of October 31, 1984, Indira Gandhi,’ the Iron Lady’ of India, was assassinated. She was India’s then Prime Minister. The assassination was carried out by Satwant Singh and Beant Singh, her ‘Sikh bodyguards.’ The assassination was the result of the ‘Blue Star’ operation carried out at the behest of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by the Indian Army.

    The attack on the Golden Temple in Amritsar by the Indian Army in June 1984 left the Sikh temple heavily damaged. Hundreds of people lost their lives, including the terrorists as well as the Army. What followed the assassination, however, was brutal, and the recovery was huge. The nation was engulfed in the flames of riots for the next four days. The capital of the nation bore the majority of its brunt. More than 3000 Sikhs have been killed nationwide. The anger against the Sikh community was evident after the assassination.

    Indira Gandhi was the country’s first lady prime minister. She was popular among the masses, despite the emergency and Operation Blue Star. “There were scores of people grieving her loss, the loss of a great leader who should have avoided the mistakes just the way that Rajiv Gandhi could have avoided making the famous line,”The earth shakes when a large tree falls”.

    WHY WAS INDIRA GANDHI ASSASSINATED?

    Between 1 and 8 June 1984, Operation Bluestar was an Indian military operation ordered by Indira Gandhi to evict leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his armed followers from the buildings of the Amritsar Harmandir Sahib Complex.

    Due to her role in the operation that destroyed portions of the Akal Takht and caused casualties, Indira Gandhi was unpopular among Sikhs. In the temple, library that caught fire caused the alleged destruction of Sikh scriptures and manuscripts. Consequently, out of fear of assassination, Sikhs were removed from her private bodyguard by the Intelligence Bureau. She also ordered her Sikh bodyguards to be reinstated by the Special Protection Group, including Beant Singh. He was considered her personal favorite.

    WHAT WAS OPERATION BLUE STAR?

    –              It is a code name given to an Indian military operation to remove the separatists hiding within the Amritsar Golden Temple on June 5, 1984.

    –              Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister, ordered the operation, primarily to take possession of the Amritsar Harmandir Sahib Complex (popularly referred to as the Golden Temple).

    –              To drive out the Sikh extremist religious leader, Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, and his armed followers, the Indian military entered the premises of the temple.

    –              There were two components to the operation, Operation Metal, which was the invasion of the temple complex, and Operation Store, which was restricted to the state’s countryside.

    –              Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale wanted the Indian government to pass the Anandpur Resolution, and thereby agree to the formation of a separate state of Khalistan for Sikhs.

    –              This radical leader of Sikhism had managed to gain ample support for his cause since 1982 and had set up a base with ammunition and his followers within the Golden Temple complex by mid-1983.

    –              Operation Blue Star was then launched to get rid of Bhindranwale and his demands between 1 June and 6 June 1984.

    –              This operation helped to eradicate Khalistani extremism, resulting in the death of Bhindranwale.

    Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister of India from 1966 to 1984. She entered office with grand ideas to promote Indian autonomy through the establishment of the Green Revolution. She also joined the fight to create what would be known as Bangladesh (then part of Pakistan). Despite her achievements, there was much opposition to her regime. The Sikh minority wanted their own nation which Gandhi rejected. Tensions rose and led to Operation Blue Star, which sought to stop the Sikh rebellions that Gandhi asserted inspired much terror throughout India. Several Sikhs were killed in the operation. Months later, on October 31, 1984 Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards, Satwant Singh, and Beant Singh. Why did Gandhi’s bodyguards assassinate her and what was the impact of her murder? Satwant and Beant Singh assassinated Indira Gandhi as a result of political and religious grievances, and that her murder led to much retaliation and bias against the Sikhs.

    There has been much debate over whether Operation Blue Star, which Indira Gandhi ordered, was justified. The Sikhs developed nationalistic movements to create their own nation. In some cases, they used terror to scare the Indian government into granting them a separate Sikh nation. Some historians argue that Operation Blue Star was necessary to put down Sikh nationalistic movements that were causing turmoil in India.  Conversely, other historians argue that the operation was not justified and that it was an exhibition of Gandhi’s misuse of power and discriminatory action towards the Sikhs. Following her assassination, there were several anti-Sikh riots that plagued the country. Hindus participated in mass killings of Sikhs as an act of revenge.  The riots lasted for months and the death toll rose to thousands. There seemed to be no effective ways to stop the violence. There was fear all over. Also, there was speculation that the government was purposefully not doing anything because they hated the Sikhs for killing Gandhi.

    However, this was proven to be false because they had several members in the government that were Sikhs, so the argument had gotten shut down as well. Many nations had no idea how bad the situation was until the numbers were displayed. At this point in time, Sikhs were being blamed for almost everything, even things that were not related to Gandhi.

    The divide between Sikhs and Hindus grew at an exponential rate as was the amount of Sikh deaths in India. Rajiv Gandhi, Indira’s son took office as Prime Minister following her assassination and found that he could not keep the situation under control. However, it was becoming apparent that the police would not intervene to save the Sikhs that were being tortured, and killed. So, he had decided to attempt to hide the events that were taking place. Despite his efforts, eventually other nations had discovered what had happened and expressed their disgust towards the events but did not take much action in doing anything to remedy the issue.

    Throughout the period of anti-Sikh riots,  thousands of them killed, raped, tortured and more. Homes and holy places of the Sikhs were also destroyed. It was a dark time for the people of India especially the Sikhs.

  • “Political will, professional will, and peoples’ will together can do anything”

    Dr. V.K.Raju, Founder-President of the Eye Foundation of America.

    Dr. V.K. Raju is the Founder and president of the Eye Foundation of America and a clinical professor of ophthalmology at West Virginia University in Morgantown. He received his medical degree from Andhra University in Visakhapatnam, India. He completed both his ophthalmology residency and fellowship at the University of London. Dr. Raju is a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons and the American College of Surgeons.

    The Eye Foundation of America he founded has been rendering services since 1977 in India and 21 other developing countries. The mammoth work the EFA team has done could be the envy of any humanitarian organization. Close to 400,000   eye surgeries, 2.5 million + outpatients- it is a colossal work. It helped found 2 Eye Institutes – Goutami and Srikiran in AP, India in 2005.  These institutes have committed to provide innovative and compassionate care to the patients, by incorporating new technology and through patient education. His mission was to protect, preserve and restore the treasured gift of sight for improving quality of life by providing caring service, irrespective of the socio-economic status, with due emphasis on education and research.

    Dr Raju has received numerous awards, including the Academy’s Outstanding Humanitarian Award, the Melvin Jones Fellowship from the International Lions Foundation, the Paul Harris Fellow Award from Rotary International, the Distinguished Community Service Award from the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin and the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Achievement Award from West Virginia University. Dr. Raju has published over 300 presentations, articles and chapters. He has authored 2 books , and more are in the pipeline. Along with his clinical work, his interests include medical history, establishing lectureships to enhance teaching and the prevention of blindness in children through teaching, service and research.

    The Indian Panorama editor Prof. Indrajit S Saluja caught up with Dr. Raju who was in New York as a guest at the Diwali at Times Square, and had a conversation with him on his favorite subject of prevention of blindness among children. 

    TIP: What is your message to readers of The Indian Panorama? 

    I was born in India but lived in West Virginia most of my life. People often say that I am working so hard for a long time. Actually 45 years now since this work began. When you like and do the work, it’s not work anymore. I do believe in that. Today we are living in an incredible age with the advancement of medicine. But for children, I think it’s not fair. I have worked in 30 countries but our main nucleus is India. As my mentor used to say in London ‘there are three solutions for every problem involved – first is education, second is education, and third is education.’  So, if you educate people, problems will be minimum. If we can give education and health to  children, they will build the nation. I feel there is need for charities for them.

    Dr. V.K. Raju examines children at Goutami Hospital in Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh. 

    TIP: What is your vision and mission about Goutami?

    Our work starts with ‘eye camp’ which is a wonderful concept. The concept is:  screening, seeing the patients outside the hospital. In rural areas people don’t want to come to the hospitals because it’s threatening. Even today, even in the United States, people are somehow concerned about coming to the hospitals. We treat people outside the hospital. Screen them, advise them and some of the treatments we give outside the hospital. In 1979 we started a temporary facility outside the hospital with screening, advising the patients and giving minor treatments which are quite safe outside the hospital. You have heard about health fairs where we set up all facilities by screening people and if needed ultimately sending them to the hospitals to complete the procedure. But 30-40 years back there was a problem. After you finish the camp where will patients go for follow up?  So, we started two institutions – and the latest one is Goutami. Giving continuous care is the main thing. Our priority is children, children, and children. We talk about education and 80% of our education is through vision and if the children miss that chance, it’s not only problem to the child, it’sa problem to the community, society, and to the country. In eyecare, if you catch them early, treat them early, problems can be resolved. Goutami has excellent telemedicine facility – biggest program in Andhra Pradesh. We screen every baby who is prematurely born – 8% to 10% of them need special attention. Fifteen to thirty minutes treatment can save them from blindness.

    The Rotary Clubs helped us a lot in organizing the eye camps. Goutami does a camp a day. Anything can be done today but we have to do it together. If the will is there it can be done. Political will, professional will, and peoples’ will togethercando anything.

    TIP: Have you launched a project on eyecare in Rotary Club in Morgantown?

    Yes we did. In United States there is a problem with nutrition. What people eat in West Virginia is not good for health, and obesity is the major issue. We really try to educate  parents and their children in the farmers market  about what to eat properly. In ancient Ayurvedic system of India, it is not the medications. The principles of Ayurveda are – eat right, exercise right, fix your lifestyle  and then if it’s not enough then take medication. We are trying to make people conscious about that. Mindset is important. Forget what you have done. Think about what you have to do.

     TIP: The lifestyle in America, does it cause any eye ailment?

    Yes. Children spending too much time with cellphone or video game can suffer from Myopia. But we can check that. They should take a break from screens every 30 or 45 minutes. It’s up to the parents because children learn what they live.

    TIP: Do you have any plans to extend the work of Eye Foundation of America  in Central American countries?

    I am so glad you have asked this question. The Eye Foundation of America will go where the need is the highest. We’re planning to go to Guatemala  end of this year or early next year. The Green Goutami project is coming up. Once the new building starts we will extend our reach in Guatemala.

    Children receive expert care at Goutami Hospital.

    TIP: Tell us about the new Goutami Building

    We have all facilities with the latest and greatest equipment. There will be treatment for a rare cancer of the eye  called ‘Retinoblastoma.’ Cancer in the eye is very rare but important aspect of eye cancer is tumor in the eye in the back of retina. We want to make people aware of this. We are planning to do some projects with Nargis DuttMemorial Cancer Foundation. 

    TIP: What’s your call on Govt of India’s child welfare programs?

    Indian government has done incredible job in this regard but after getting about 80% success there is relaxation. They have achieved whatever, but there are problems in implementation. In villages and rural areas there is still vitamin deficiency and vitamin A deficiency is not only bad but it can make you blind. There is a problem of immunity. If a vitamin A deficient child gets measles, it can cause death.  Not a single child be left behind.That should be the attitude. We should not stop until we reach the last post.

  • Astronomers make discovery that can ‘dramatically narrow’ search for aliens

    Astronomers make discovery that can ‘dramatically narrow’ search for aliens

    Red dwarf stars or M dwarf stars are the most common type of stars in the universe. Recent research into an Earth-like planet orbiting such a star discovered that it has no atmosphere. According to the researchers behind the study, this discovery could create a major shift in the way we look for alien life. Since these stars are so common, the discovery of GJ 1252b—the planet in question—having no atmosphere could mean that a large number of planets orbiting such stars would probably not be able to host any life. This Earth-like planet is slightly larger than ours and is much close to its star than we are to our Sun. This makes GJ 1252b intensely hot and pretty much inhospitable. “The pressure from the star’s radiation is immense, enough to blow a planet’s atmosphere away,” said Michelle Hill, UC Riverside astrophysicist and co-author of the study published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, in a press statement.

    How planets lose their atmosphere

    The Earth also loses some of its atmosphere over time due to the intense radiation from the Sun. But on our planet, a combination of volcanic emissions and other carbon cycling processes replenishes what is lost for the most part. But for a planet like GJ 1252b, which has a much tighter orbit with its star, it is nearly impossible to replenish the atmosphere being lost.

    This is exactly what happens with Mercury in our solar system. The planet closest to the sun does technically have an atmosphere but it is an extremely thin one made up of atoms that the sun’s radiation blasted off its surface. The extreme heat on Mercury means that most of these atoms escape into space.

    How do scientists know GJ 1252b doesn’t have an atmosphere

    A secondary eclipse is when a planet passes behind a star, blocking the light from the planet and the light that is reflected from its star. Astronomers measured infrared radiation from GJ 1252b when it was obscured by such an eclipse.

    This infrared radiation revealed that the planet’s temperatures are scorching hot during its daytime, tipping the scales at around 1227 degrees Celsius. This is hot enough to melt all the gold, silver and copper on the planet. Based on this heat and the low surface pressure on the planet, scientists concluded that there is no atmosphere there.

    “The planet could have 700 times more carbon than Earth has, and it still wouldn’t have an atmosphere. It would build up initially, but then taper off and erode away,” said Stephen Kane, UCR astrophysicist and study co-author, in a press statement.

    All of the above factors, combined with the fact that M dwarfs tend to have more flares and activity than the sun, means that it is extremely unlikely that planets closely surrounding such planets can hold on to their atmosphere.

                    Source: The Indian Express

  • Facebook’s bitmoji-style avatars now coming to WhatsApp

    Facebook’s bitmoji-style avatars now coming to WhatsApp

    Social media giant Facebook’s Bitmoji-style avatars, which earlier invaded Instagram and Messenger, are now also coming to Whatsapp. According to The Verge, a report from WABetaInfo suggests that WhatsApp is rolling out support for customizable avatars in the latest 2.22.23.9 beta on Android, but only for some users. Those with access to the feature will see a new ‘Avatar’ category in their settings menu that they can use to customise the digital version of themselves.

    Similar to Meta’s other apps, WhatsApp will then generate a sticker pack with the avatar in various poses, which users can use to express themselves when messaging family and friends. This feature was first spotted by WABetaInfo last month but now it’s actually rolling out to users. It’s unclear when WhatsApp will roll out the feature to all users on Android, or when it plans on bringing the feature to iOS, reported The Verge. Meta first introduced avatars on Messenger and the News Feed in 2019 before they became available to use in Facebook comments and stories in 2020. Earlier this year, the company gave its avatars a new 3D look and started letting users add them to feed posts, Facebook profile pictures, and Instagram Stories.

    As per The Verge, at the time, Meta’s general manager for avatars and identity, Aigerim Shorman, touted the update as part of Meta’s efforts toward building out its idea of the metaverse, which not only includes virtual and augmented reality, but also bridges “more familiar platforms like your phone and computer.”            Source: ANI